Dallas Stars Secure Superstar Goaltender Jake Oettinger with New Signing Deal
The Dallas Stars and NHL superstar goaltender Jake Oettinger have agreed to terms on a contract extension that will see him remain with the team for eight years.
The Dallas Stars nailed down an important part of their future, as they locked their star goaltender, Jake Oettinger, into a long-term contract extension. Still only 25 years old, Oettinger has quickly become one of the best goaltenders in the NHL, and the Stars wasted no time making sure he remains a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. He has brought stability between the pipes, as this steady netminding has been one of the reasons the Stars have consistently been in these playoff runs over the past few years. His contract extension thus becomes a top priority with the organization.
Early reports suggested the Stars were set to ink Jake Oettinger to a deal in line with that of Boston Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman, courtesy of Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. With both being young, elite goaltending talents, both deals reflect the burgeoning importance to their respective clubs. If Friedman's report was that the Stars were set to sign Oettinger to a deal mirroring that of Swayman's, it wasn't long before that report was confirmed.
The Stars have since made the signing official, inking an eight-year deal that will see Jake Oettinger earn $8.25 million annually, starting with the 2025-26 season. That is the exact same deal given to Jeremy Swayman, cementing both goalies as long-term investments for their teams. But while Swayman and Oettinger are similar in age, as Swayman is just a month older, it's Oettinger's accomplishments and stats that have caught the league's attention.
Jake Oettinger's numbers are nothing short of impressive. Since becoming the full-time starter, he is 116-48-23 in 196 games, with a career .914 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average. He has also backstopped the Stars to back-to-back appearances in the Western Conference Final. In 47 playoff games, he is 23-22 with a .915 save percentage and a 2.24 goals-against average. By comparison, Jeremy Swayman has played 135 games with a record of 81-34-15, which puts into perspective just how much Oettinger has accomplished in such a short time period.
With Jake Oettinger signed for the next eight years, the Stars have cemented themselves in the goaltending department and reassured themselves as a continuing Stanley Cup contender. That well-deserved extension really highlights the vital role he has played for the team this season, and it came together rather quickly according to Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff. In fact, discussions between Oettinger's camp and the Stars just got started last week, but it's evident both sides knew how important this deal was. Oettinger has continued that into the start of the 2024-25 season, currently sitting at 3-0-0 with a shutout to prove the Stars made the right choice in locking up their star goalie.
